Bracelet extension device



Nov. 6, 1928.

N. T. NELSON.

BRACELET EXTENSION DEVICE! Filed April 19. 1928 INVENTOR. ,J e/f ZIke/2.;

BY I v ATTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 6, 1928.

* UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELS T. NELSON, OF ATTLEBOBO, MASSACHUSETTS; ASSIGNOR TO J. I. STUBDYSSONS COMPANY, OF AT'ILEIBOBO FALLS, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMASSA- CHUSETTS.

- BRACELET EXTENSION DEVICE.

This invention relates to extension devices of the type employed withbracelet straps and the like for extending the length thereof tofacilitate the strap being passed over the hand of the wearer.

An object of the invention is to provide a strap having in itsconstruction an extendible member which comprises a plurality ofsections adapted to be unfolded to enlarge the strap, and to providemeans in this memher for connecting the same to thestrap so as to enablethe strap to be adjusted as to length to fit wrists of different sizes.

Another object is to produce an eificient,

16 strong and durable extension device which may be economicallyconstructed and operated.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as will be more fully described, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan of a bracelet strapshow- 2 ing my improved extension member incorporated therewith;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 looking at the opposite face ofthe strap;

Figure 3 is a view showing the sections of so the device swung to anend-to-end extended position;

Fi part y in section, and showing the strap and its associated partspulled outwards slightly;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4:,showing the foldable sections separated'and the strap and its associatedparts pulled outward slightly; Figure 6 is a detailperspective of one ofthe sections of the foldable member; and

Figures 7, 8 and 9 are perspective views of some of the parts used inthe construction of the other section.

It is found in the practical use of wrist watch straps or bracelets ofthis character,

of advantage to be able to readily extend the length of the strap sothat it may be readily passed over the hand ofthe wearer withoutseparating the ends of the strap;

also, it is found of advantage to be able to disconnect one of the strapparts so as to per mit the strap to be taken from the arm e 4 isa viewsimilar to Figure 3,

. frame, the longitudinal sides of which have without passing over thehand, if desired. Then again, it is found of advantage to be able toreadily adjust the operating length of the strap to fit wrists ofdifferent sizes so that when the extensible member is folded the lengthof the strap will be the right length to fit the wearer. Furthermore, itis found of advantage to provide a yieldable connection between thestrap and the extensible member so as to permit the strap to ex pand andcontract slightly when applied to the arm. All of these desirablefeatures are obtained in my improved extension device; and the followingis a detailed description of the present embodiment of my invention andshowing one means and arrangement of parts by which these advantageousresults may be accomplished With reference to' the drawings, the devicecomprises a pair of sections 11 and 12 which are hinged together bymeans of a pin 13 so that the sections can be swung to an end-to-endextended position, the section 11 constituting a hinged cover forenclosing the section 12 when the parts'are folded. The sections areslightly curved, in the manner shown, so as to conform to the wrist. Thesections 11 and 12 are further provided with the usual male and femalelatch members 9 and 10 so as to hold the members'in closed posit-ion.

The section 11 comprises a rectangular depending flanges 14. Theseflanges besides adding rigidity to the section are adapted, when thesection 11 is folded over the section 12, to enclose the side walls ofthe section 12, as will be hereinafter more fully described. 7 The endsof the section 11 have cross bars 15 and 16, the former being disposedin the plane of the sides of the section, while the latter is depressedlightly below the plane of the sides thereof. Intermediate the section11 is another cross bar 17 which may be considerably broader than thecross bars 15 and 16, and which should also be depressed in a mannersimilar to that employed in constructing the ores bar 16;

One end '18 of a strap section 19 is fixed to the cross bar 15, and whenthe 8601710115818 folded the strap lies between the sides of the section11, being. supported by the cross bars 9' 16 and 17. The constructionand at piece of metal, one edge posed side edges are formed with spacedcut and raised portions, which .wardly towards each other from t e sidesof of the parts should be such that the strap will be supported by thecross bars in a plane below the normal surface of the section 11 so thatthe thickness of the device will be reduced to a minimum.

The section 12 comprises a rectangular plate, the longitudinal sides ofwhich have upstanding flanges 20. The flanges provide side walls betweenwhich the frame of a yield ing member slides. At one end, the flangesare formed with extensions 21, which are per forated at 22 for receivingthe pivot pin 13. At the opposite end of the section 12, the upper edgesof the flanges are extended to provide inturned lugs 23, the purpose ofwhich will be presently described.

Near the inner end of the section 12, the flanges 20 are formed withalternate projections 24 and notches 25, in the present instance therebeing two projections and two notches on each side of the section. Theprojections may be of any length desired, while the notches should havea depth, at'least equal to thickness of the material used in theconstruction of the device.

Mounted in the section 12 is a slide'26, con-.

structed from suitable bar metal. The slide is U-shaped in form and thearms 27 thereof are connected by a bridge 28. The arms 27 are arrangedin parallel'so as to slidingly fit between the flanges 20and be guidedthereby. The bridge 28 is bent forwardly to provide an indented portionhaving longitudinally extending parallel arms 29 spaced from the arms27, and connected by a cross-bar 30.

This construction divides the inner end of the slide into two parts, thepurpose of which will be hereinafter described.

The extremities of the arms 27 are disposed, normally, adjacent to theouter end of the section, being retained withinthe section by means ofthe lugs 23. The inner portion of the slide comprising the portions 28,29 and 30 is arranged near the inner end of the section, being enclosedby a plate 31.

The-plate 31 is made om a rectangular of which is bent ownwardly toprovide a lip 32, while its opnotches 33, alternating with projections34. When the plate is assembled on the section the projections 34 areinserted in the notches 25. The projections 24 are then bent downwardlyin the manner shown by Figure 3 to lock the plate in position on thesection. The arrangement of the parts is such that the lip 32 will bedisposed transversely of the section and form an enclosure for the rearortion thereof, while the plate will prevent islodgment of the rearendof the slide from the section 12.

The arms 27 are formed at intervals with roject inthe arms to provide aplurality of fingers 36.

One end of a strap section 37 has an eye 38 having notches 39 formedtherein so that the strap can be detachably secured to the slide 26. Byengaging the eye 38 with any pair of opposed fingers 36, the length ofthe strap may be varied, as will be understood.

For the purpose of yieldably retaining the slide 26 in the section 12,expansible springs 40 are disposed within the double U portion of theslide, the'springs being mounted between the arms 27 and the portions 29on each side of the slide, thereby being separated. by the reversedU-shaped portion of the slide. 1

One end of each spring bears against the lip 32, while the opposite endthereof bears against the portion 28 of the slide. When the strap 37 ispulled outwardly thereby moving the slide 26' outwardly of the section12, the springs 4:0 will be compressed between the lip 32 and theportions 28. When the strap is released the springs will expand therebyforcing the slide rearwardly untilthe inner portion thereof abuts thepin 13, as will be readily understood.

By the use of my improved extension device in a bracelet or wrist watchstrap, I am enabled to quickly extend the operating length of the strapby one unfolding action. Then again, by the provision of the resilientsl de which is carried by one section of the device, which slide carriesmeans whereby the end of a strap can be hooked thereto, I am enabled toreadily disconnect one end entirely, also to readil adjust the operatinglength of the strap, an also I am enabled to connect the adjustable endto the strap part and'then lock this end against separation by foldingand locking the other section over this connected strap end.

The foregoing description is directed sole- 1y towards the constructionillustrated, but I changes to which the device is susceptible, theinvention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appendedclaims.

The invention claimed is 1. An extension device comprisin two sectionshinged together at one end an adapted to be swlmg to an end-to-endextended position, a slide operatively mounted in one of said sections,lon tudinally spaced means carried by said end of the strap.

2. An extenslon device eomprisin two sections hinged together at one endan adapted to be swung to an end-to-end extended position, one of saidsections com rising a longitudinally flanged body, a -shaped slidemounted in the said body between t e flan thereof, means for connectingthe end 0 a strap to the said slide, and means on the free end of theother section for connecting the end of a strap thereto, the othersection come to adjustably receive the prisin a skeleton frame having across bar at its ree end for receiving the end of a. stra 3. Anextension device comprising fol able sections hinged together at one endand adapted to be swung to an end-to-end extended position, a strapconnected to one of said sections, a slide mounted in theother of saidsections, opposed projections carried by said slide, a stra detachablyconnected to the said slide, sa1d strap having an end formed with anotched eye for engagement with the said projections. 4. An extensiondevice comprising foldable sections hinged together at one end and adapted to be swung to an end;to-end extended position, a strap attached toone of saidsec tions, the other of said sections comprisin alongitudinally flanged body, a. U-shape slide mounted 1n-the saidsect-ion with the side arms of the slide paralleling the said sectionflanges, op projections formed on the side arms 0 the slide, and a strapdetachably connected to the said slide, said strap having an end formedwith a notched eye for engagement with the said projections.

5. An extension device comprising sections I hinged together at one endand adapted to be versely of the said section, and tension means swungto an end-to-end extended position, one of said sections comprising aflanged'body, a U-shaped slide mounted in the body, a strap connected tothe outer rtion of the slide, a cover plate carried by t c said sectionfor enclosing the inner end of the slide, said cover plate having 9.depending lip arranged transof the slide paralleling bearing inst thesaid lip and the inner end of the s 3%: p

v 6. An extension device comprising sections hinged together at one endand adapted to be swung to an end-to-end extended position, one of saidsections comprisin a flanged body, a U-shaped slide mounted 1n the body,the inner end of the said slide being provided with a U-shaped portionreversed to the main body portion of the said slide whereby to dividethe inner portion of the slide into two parts, a spring mounted on eachside of the .said slide, said springs being separated by the saidreversed U-shaped portion of the slide bearing means for the springscarried by the said section, and bearing means for the springs carriedby the said slide.

7. -An extension device comprising foldable sections hinged together atone end and adapted to be swung to an end-to-end extended position, astrap attached to one of said sections, the other ofsaid sectionscomprising a longi-. tudinally flanged body, a U-shaped slide mounted inthe said section with the side arms the said section flanges, opposedprojectlons formed on the side arms of the slide, a strap detachablyconnected to the said slide, said strap having an end formed with anotched eye for engagement with the said projections, and means fordetachably connecting the end of a strap to the front end of the saidslide.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature.

NELS 'r. NELSON.

